BASKETBALL
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Wollongong captain Oscar Forman is banking on a triumphant homecoming when he leads the Hawks against Adelaide on Sunday.
Forman was born and raised in Adelaide, breaking into the NBL with the 36ers as an 18-year-old in 2001 and spending five years with the club.
He still has strong family ties to the city and always looks forward to returning.
But the 205-centimetre forward doesn't look back fondly on his most recent visit to his home town.
The Sixers thrashed the Hawks by 21 points in late October and Forman finished with just three points on 1/6 shooting.
"I've had some shockers there but I've had some good ones there too," he said. "This season already I put in a bad performance, so this time hopefully I'm due for a good one."
Forman, who turned 33 on Friday, said he didn't feel extra pressure to play well in Adelaide.
"There's no family or home town distractions or anything like that," he said.
"It's just another game. It doesn't matter where it is.
"They usually defend me pretty well and focus on limiting my touches and play me tighter. Their guards are allowed to get away with a lot down low on defensive switches, so it's a matter of making sure I set effective screens before I roll so the guards can come off for penetration."
Wollongong were down by three points at half-time in that round-three clash with the Sixers before being blown out 30-12 in the third quarter.
Forman said the Hawks must control the tempo of the game.
"Adelaide nearly always come out strong and quick and get a run on us, so the big thing is stopping their running game," he said.
"The crowd gets behind them and they build momentum, and that's usually when they have those streaks when they put a lot of points on the board. We just have to weather that and make sure we limit the duration of that streak."
The Hawks have lost 17 of 20 games and need a minor miracle to avoid last place.
The 36ers had to face the Wildcats in Perth on Friday night and are in a four-team race for fourth spot.
Wollongong host the Sixers in a rematch next Friday. Both teams will wear retro uniforms to mark the NBL's Heritage Week. The Hawks will be in the club's 1986 strip.